NJ Transit Announces Expanded Holiday Service

NEWARK — NJ Transit will offer extra service for the upcoming holidays to give customers more travel options, whether going to the mall for last-minute shopping, leaving work early for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, or attending New Year’s Eve festivities.

NJ Transit customer service representatives and volunteers will be deployed at major facilities throughout the holiday weekend to assist customers with their travels.

On Friday, Dec. 20, buses will operate early getaway service from the Port Authority Bus Terminal starting around 1 p.m. for the benefit of customers leaving work early for the holiday week.

On Tuesday, Dec. 24, trains will operate on a weekday schedule on all lines with additional “early getaway” service from New York Penn Station, Newark Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal starting at 1 p.m. on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley, Morris & Essex, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines. Newark Light Rail, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River Line will operate on a weekday schedule. Buses will operate on a regular weekday schedule on most routes, with early getaway service from the Port Authority Bus Terminal starting around 1 p.m. to accommodate the heaviest travel.

On Christmas Day, Wednesday, Dec. 25, trains will operate on a weekend schedule/major holiday schedule on all rail lines. Newark Light Rail and River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule. Holiday bus schedules vary by route.

On Thursday, Dec. 26 and Friday, Dec. 27, trains will operate on a modified weekday schedule on all rail lines with additional New York-bound trains between 10 a.m. and noon on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast and Morris & Essex lines. Customers are encouraged to travel early, if possible, when ridership is light. Select morning peak period trains on the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line will not operate due to expected light ridership—customers should visit njtransit.com and use the “Station-to-Station Trip Planner” to find trains between the holidays. Newark Light Rail, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River Line will operate on a weekday schedule. Buses will operate on a weekday schedule, with extra bus service to and from New York on selected routes, including early getaway service from the Port Authority Bus Terminal on Friday, Dec. 27 starting around 1 p.m.

On Saturday, Dec. 28, trains and buses will operate on a weekend schedule. Newark Light Rail and River Line will operate on a Saturday schedule. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule.

On Sunday, Dec. 29, trains and buses will operate on a weekend schedule. Newark Light Rail and River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule. The Meadowlands Rail Line will operate for the Giants/Redskins game at 1 p.m.

On Monday, Dec. 30, trains will operate on a modified weekday schedule on all rail lines with additional New York-bound trains between 10 a.m. and noon on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast and Morris & Essex lines. Customers are encouraged to travel early, if possible, when ridership is light. Select morning peak period trains on the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line will not operate due to expected light ridership—customers should visit njtransit.com and use the “Station-to-Station Trip Planner” to find trains between the holidays. Buses and light rail lines will operate on a weekday schedule.

On New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 31, trains will operate on a modified weekday schedule on all rail lines with additional New York-bound trains between 10 a.m. and noon on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast and Morris & Essex lines. Customers are encouraged to travel early, if possible, when ridership is light. Select morning peak period trains on the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line will not operate due to expected light ridership—customers should visit njtransit.com and use the “Station-to-Station Trip Planner” to find trains between the holidays. Additional “early getaway” service from Hoboken Terminal will operate on the Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines in the afternoon. In the evening, additional New York-bound trips will operate on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast and Morris & Essex lines. In addition, certain trips that normally depart just before or just after midnight will operate later to accommodate customers returning from New Year’s festivities.

Bus schedules vary by route. Customers are advised to check their timetables or visit njtransit.com for schedule information. Selected routes will operate on special holiday schedules, available on njtransit.com, to match service with ridership demand, including early getaway service from the Port Authority Bus Terminal between noon and 4 p.m. to accommodate the heaviest travel, with less frequent service during the peak periods and later in the evening due to lower ridership. Early getaway service will also operate from the Jersey City Waterfront on the No. 64 and No. 68 bus routes. In the evening, additional service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal will be offered on selected routes from approximately 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. to accommodate customers traveling to New York for the festivities.

Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, Newark Light Rail and River Line will operate on a weekday schedule.

In addition, River Line will operate extended late-night service on New Year’s Eve and after midnight on New Year’s Day to accommodate customers attending the festivities on the Camden Waterfront. Special late-night trains will operate between Camden and Trenton, making all local stops.

Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will also operate added late-night service on New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day to accommodate travelers returning home from midnight celebrations.

No open containers of alcohol will be permitted on board trains, light rail vehicles, aboard buses or in any NJ Transit facility. This policy will be strictly enforced on New Year’s Eve and after midnight.

After midnight, special late-night trains will operate on most rail lines, and expanded bus service will be provided from the Port Authority Bus Terminal until approximately 2 a.m. on selected routes.

On New Year’s Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, trains will operate on a weekend/major holiday schedule. Newark Light Rail will operate on a Saturday schedule. River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule. Holiday bus schedules vary by route.

For complete schedule and fare information, customers may visit njtransit.com or call 973-275-5555.

In addition, NJ Transit is giving customers more than two weeks of continuous savings through a special extension of the Family Super Saver Fare, which allows up to two children 11 and younger to travel free with each fare-paying adult. Usually limited to weekends, the Family Super Saver Fare will be in effect for the entire holiday period, starting at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 until 6 a.m. Monday, Jan. 6, on all trains, buses and light rail lines.